Shackle for suspenders



(Normaal.) Y

` J. F. WEBSTER.

SHAGKLEPOR SUSPBNDBRS. No. 489.443. PatentedJan. 3, 1893..

STATES PATENT Enron.

SHACKLE'FOR SUSPENDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 489,443, dated January3, 1893.

Application filed July 5, 1892. Serial No. 439.022. (No model.)

To afZZ wiz/m t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. WEBsrER, of New Bedford, in the county ofBristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Shackles for Suspenders, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has for its object to provide a shackle adapted to bereadily connected with and removed from Suspenders, at a point betweenthe place of permanent connection of the Suspenders and the neck of thewearer, the object of said shackle being to prevent.v the Suspendersfrom slipping off the shoulders of the wearer.

The invention consists in a shackle, comprising the constructionhereinafter described and claimed.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification: Figure1 represents a view showing a shackle embodying my invention applied toa pair of Suspenders. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged side view of theshackle removed from the Suspenders. Fig. 3 represents an edge view ofthe shackle shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 represent respectively a sideand an edge view of a different construction of shackle, embodying myinven tion. Figs. 6 and 7 represent respectively a side and an edge viewof another construction; and Figs. 8 and 9 represent respectively a sideand an edge view of Still another construction; all embodying myinvention.

In carrying out my invention, I make a shackle, composed of four (4)general parts, namely, two (2) clasps or clips a d, each adapted toembrace one of the webs or straps of a pair of Suspenders and two (2)links b b, which are engaged with the inner ends of the clasps and areconnected at a point between the clasps by a pivot c. The links arepreferably engaged with the clasps by means of slots b b', formed in theouter ends of the links, said slots receiving the inner ends of theclasps and permitting the clasps to swing on the links in a direction atright angles to the direction in which the links are permitted to swingon each other by the pivot c. The clasps are adapted to be opened andclosed, so that they may be readily removed from and applied to thestraps or parts d d of the sus` penders, and their construction is suchthat, when closed upon the Suspenders, they will be firmly engagedtherewith, and free from liability to slip.

It will be seen that a shackle of the general construction aboveindicated, applied to a pair of Suspenders above the permanent point ofconnection d of the parts d d, may be adjusted at any desired height,and are adapted to securely hold the straps d d upon the shoulders ofthe wearer, and prevent their slipping sidewise, thus obviating theliability of the straps d d slipping off the Shoulders of the wearer,which liability exists particularly when the wearer has slopingshoulders. The construction of the clasps, so that they can open andclose, enables the shackle not only to be adjusted at any desiredheight, but also to be removed from a discarded pair of suspenders andapplied to a new pair. The described pivotal connection of the innerends of the clasps to the links b b, and the described pivotalconnection of said links to each other, enable the Suspenders to movefreely without experiencing any restraint owing to their engagement withthe shackle, other than the restraint which prevents them from slipping0E from the shoulders of the wearer.

The construction of the clasps,whereby they may be opened and closed,and, when closed, lirmly bound upon the Suspenders, may be variouslymodified. In Figs. 2 and 3, I show each clasp composed of a single pieceof sheet metal, bent at one end to form a small hook 2, which is engagedwith one of the Slotted links, and at its opposite end to form a largerhook 3, adapted to partially embrace the smaller hook, and madesufficiently elastic to permit it to spring on to and off from the SaidSmaller hook. In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each clasp isprovided with the hooks 2 and 3, arranged as already described, but,instead of being made in one piece, each clasp is made in two pieces 6,hinged together at 7, the hook 2 being formed on the piece 6 and thehook 3 on the piece 5. The piece 5 is provided near its hinged end witha dog 8, formed to engage the fabric of the Suspenders when the clasp isclosed upon the Same. The construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 issubstantially the same as that shown in IOO Figs. 4 and 5, exceptingthat the section 5 is provided with an additional dog 9, located at theopposite side of the hinge 7 from the dog S, the dog S being in thiscase formed integral with the section 5, and made in two parts, each ofwhich is an ear, projecting edgewise from the part 5, one edge of saidear being serrated and bent inwardly to engage the fabric of theSuspenders. In Figs. 8 and 9, I show the saine construction as in Figs.G and 7, excepting that the dog 8, instead of being composed of earsprojecting outwardly from the edges of the section 5, is formed bystrik- 111g up a portion of said section, forming a tongue, which is cutaway from the section 5 at three sides and left connected therewith atthe fourth side, said tongue being bent inwardly and serrated to formthe dog S.

I claim:

1. A Suspenders shackle, consisting ot' two clasps adapted to be closedupon and released from the Suspenders, and links provided with loops towhich the clasps are connected and which are pivotally connected to eachother and to the clasps, as set forth.

2. A suspenders shackle, consisting of two clasps flexibly connectedtogether and each composed of two hinged parts, one having an elastichook at its swinging end formed to spring over the corresponding end ofthe other part, as set forth.

3. A Suspenders shackle consisting of two clasps exibly connectedtogether and each composed of two hinged parts, one having one or moresuspender-engaging dogs and an elastic hook formed to engage thecorresponding end of the other part, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 29th day of June, A. D.1892.

JOSEPH F. WEBSTER.

Witnesses:

N. P. HAYES, F. L. ABBOTT.

